is a Japanese animation director. After joining Shin-Ei Animation, he directed multiple Doraemon animated films. As a freelancer, he also worked on numerous animated adaptations such as Space Brothers, After the Rain, and Komi Can't Communicate.
Biography Ayumu Watanabe was born in Tokyo on September 3, 1966. He started his career in 1986 when he joined Studio Mates as a key animator. Two years later, Watanabe moved to Shin-Ei Animation, where he worked on the animated adaptation of the Doraemon comic series, as well as direct multiple anime films in the franchise. As a freelancer, he also directed numerous animated adaptations such as Space Brothers, After the Rain, and Komi Can't Communicate. He also worked with Studio 4°C on the films Children of the Sea and Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko.
Works TV series Atashin'chi (2002; storyboards) Space Brothers (2012–2014; director) Mysterious Girlfriend X (2012; director) Danchi Tomoo (2013–2015; director) If Her Flag Breaks (2014; director) Ace Attorney (2016–2019; director) After the Rain (2018; director) Gurazeni (2018; director) Major 2nd (2018–2020; director) Komi Can't Communicate (2021–2022; chief director) Summer Time Rendering (2022; director) You Are Ms. Servant (2024; director) Ganglion (2025; director) Akane-banashi (2026; director) Witch Hat Atelier (2026; director)
Films Feature films Doraemon: Nobita and the Windmasters (2003; chief animation director) Doraemon: Nobita in the Wan-Nyan Spacetime Odyssey (2004; assistant director, chief animation director) Doraemon: Nobita's Dinosaur 2006 (2006; director, screenplay) Doraemon: Nobita and the Green Giant Legend (2008; director) Space Brothers #0 (2014; director) Children of the Sea (2019; director) Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko (2021; director) Freedom in the Sky (TBA; director)
Short films Doraemon Comes Back (1998; director, animation director) Nobita's the Night Before a Wedding (1999; director, animation director) A Grandmother's Recollections (2000; director, animation director) Good Luck! Gian!! (2001; director) The Day When I Was Born (2002; director) Pa-Pa-Pa the Movie: Perman (2003; director, screenplay) Pa-Pa-Pa the Movie: Perman: Tako de Pon! Ashi wa Pon! (2004; director) Ōkii Ichinensei to Chiisana Ninensei (2014; director)
OVAs Magical Princess Minky Momo: A Duo of Sincerity Toward a Dream of Longing (TBA; director)
Awards and nominations + Award Year Category Recipient(s) Result Annie Awards 2022 Best Animated Feature – Independent Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko Hochi Film Awards 2021 Best Animated Picture Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko Japan Academy Film Prize 2022 Animation of the Year Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko Japan Media Arts Festival 2020 Grand Prize (Animation Division) Children of the Sea 2022 Excellence Award (Animation Division) Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko Mainichi Film Awards 2000 Best Animation Film Doraemon: A Grandmother's Recollections 2020 Children of the Sea
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